Yigal Efrati

Unilateral Hydroureteronephrosis Caused by Abdominoscrotal Hydrocele

Abdominoscrotal hydrocele is extremely rare in children. A case is presented of an unusually large abdominoscrotal hydrocele in a child, with secondary right hydroureteronephrosis due to contiguous pressure and right cryptorchidism. This entity, although unusual, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a lower abdominal mass in children, as well as a cause of hydroureteronephrosis. Diagnosis is made with ultrasound, computerized tomography and occasionally excretory urography. Complete surgical excision through a groin incision is recommended, but optional inguinoabdominal or abdominal incisions have been reported. After surgical removal, healing is usually complete, including regression of the hydroureteronephrosis.

Subcuticular Skin Closure as a Standard Approach to Emergency Appendectomy in Children: Prospective Clinical Trial

Abstract. We evaluated the morbidity associated with primary closure by interrupted subcuticular absorbable sutures following emergency appendectomy. In a prospective clinical trial over a 12-month period, 216 children who underwent emergency appendectomy had skin closure using subcuticular interrupted absorbable polyglactin 4-0 sutures. Preoperative prophylactic antibiotics consisting of metronidazole alone or in combination with gentamicin were used in patients with suspected phlegmonous appendicitis; a combination of metronidazole, gentamicin, and ampicillin was used when perforation of the appendix was suspected. Postoperatively, in patients with phlegmonous appendicitis metronidazole was given for 24 hours, whereas in those with peritonitis the triple antibiotics were continued for 7 to 10 days. All patients were assessed for complications resulting from the technique of wound closure. No intraabdominal abscesses or serious complications were recorded. The overall incidence of wound infection was 1.8%. Among children with a perforated appendix the rate of superficial wound infection was 5.7%. There was no difference in the rate of wound infection between patients who received metronidazole alone or metronidazole plus gentamicin preoperatively. All the patients and their families were satisfied with the cosmetic results and with the fact that removal of skin sutures was unnecessary. We conclude that the use of prophylactic antibiotics permits standard skin closure by interrupted absorbable subcuticular suture.

Blunt pancreatic trauma in children

PurposeTo report our experience with blunt pancreatic trauma in pediatric patients and evaluate several various management strategies.MethodsTen children admitted over the last 10 years with pancreatic blunt trauma were included in the present series.ResultsThe average time from injury to hospital admission was 2.4 days. All injuries resulted from accidents: bicycle handlebar injuries (5), being kicked by a horse (2), falls from a height (2), and injury sustained during closure of an electric gate (1). Additional systemic and abdominal injuries were recorded in 7 patients. The amylase levels at the time of patient admission were normal in 3 patients, mildly raised in 4 patients, and elevated in 3 patients. Abdominal computed tomography was performed in 10 patients, ultrasonography in 5, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in 4. Pancreatic injuries comprised 4 grade I, 3 grade II, and 3 grade III injuries. Grade I and II injuries were successfully managed by conservative treatment. The 3 children with grade III trauma and pancreatic ductal injury in the neck (1), body (1), and tail (1) of the gland were surgically treated, having an uneventful postoperative stay of 8–14 days and no complications during the 1-year follow-up period.ConclusionThe present study supports early ERCP as an essential part of the initial patient evaluation when pancreatic transection is highly suspected.

Bicycle-related injuries in children: Disturbing profile of a growing problem

CONTEXT We observed a changing pattern of bicycle-related injuries in children, with the focus changing from head trauma to thoracic and abdominal injuries, and a trend to increasingly severe injuries. OBJECTIVE To assess the changing injury pattern, and investigate the development of preventive measures to improve safety. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Retrospective record review of 142 paediatric patients admitted to our Department of Paediatric Surgery between 1996 and 2005 following bicycle-related injuries. Clinical, laboratory, diagnostic, and therapeutic aspects were analysed. Additional information concerning childrens bicycle-related injuries in Israel was obtained from the Gertner Institute (Israel National Center for Trauma and Emergency Medicine Research) and from Beterem (The National Center for Childrens Safety & Health, the Safe Kids Israeli Chapter) National Report on Child Injuries in Israel 2006. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The nature and severity of injuries were reviewed, and two 5-year periods compared-from 1996 to 2000 (53 children-Group 1), and from 2001 to 2005 (89 children-Group 2). RESULTS Head trauma was more common in the Group 1 patients (52.6% vs. 45.2%), but skull fractures and intracranial haemorrhage occurred more frequently in Group 2 (28.5% vs. 16.7%; 21.3% vs. 8.3%, respectively). Injury to the stomach or duodenum, kidneys and liver were all more common in Group 2. Splenic injury occurred with equal frequency in both groups, but more severe injuries were seen in Group 2. More children in Group 2 required intensive care (31% vs. 19.3%). CONCLUSIONS There is a changing pattern of bicycle-related injuries in children, with chest and abdominal injuries dominating, and an increasing incidence of more severe injury. These findings are important in decision-making regarding preventive measures.

The contribution of intraoperative transinguinal laparoscopic examination of the contralateral side to the repair of inguinal hernias in children

BackgroundBilateral inguinal hernias are relatively common in children. This fact has led to a controversy of more than 50 years concerning the necessity of bilateral surgical exploration during the repair of unilateral inguinal hernias in children. The advent of transinguinal laparoscopic visualization of the contralateral side is a turning point and a major contribution to the subject, offering the opportunity to reassess the systematic bilateral exploration and the “wait and see” policies currently in use at most services of pediatric surgery.Data sourcesThe current information concerning intraoperative transinguinal laparoscopic evaluation of inguinal hernias in children was summarized in a didactic way. A MEDLINE search (PubMed) from 1995 to the present days was conducted.ResultsA patent processus vaginalis (PPV) is not equal to a future symptomatic hernia. There is still no definitive evidence on which PPVs will become a hernia (5.8% to 11.6%) and which remain clinically insignificant. Diagnostic intraoperative transinguinal laparoscopic evaluation of the contralateral side is today the most simple and accurate way to reduce the incidence of negative explorations.ConclusionDiagnostic intraoperative transinguinal laparoscopic evaluation of the contralateral side during pediatric inguinal hernia repair is a simple, accurate, fast, and effective method to assess the contralateral processus vaginalis, improving decision-making, reducing the number of negative explorations, and sparing the surgeon the embarrassment associated with the appearance of a metachronous hernia at a later date. It is easily learned and should be part of every pediatric surgeon’s practice.

Oral blast injury caused by an accident.

Blast trauma within the oropharyngeal cavity may be associated with superficial or deep injuries. Superficial injury generally needs only observation; deeper injury that violates the retropharyngeal space may produce dissecting emphysema into the neck and mediastinum followed by prevertebral soft tissue infections and mediastinitis. Injury involving the parapharyngeal space might damage vital cervical vessels. Life-threatening complications may result unless treatment is adequate. Three children who sustained oropharyngeal blast injury are presented. The direct cause was the blast effect of a new, spoiled, orange-flavor beverage just released on the market. The bottle cap of the soft drink and its effervescent liquid “exploded” into their mouths while they were trying to open the bottle with their teeth. Obviously, the failure to observe due precautions, as frequently happens among children, contributed to the occurrence of the accidents. This paper describes the diagnosis, management, and relevant educational and preventive measures of the problem.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in early infancy

Infantile cholelithiasis is being diagnosed with increasing frequency. In infants, idiopathic cholelithiasis has rarely been diagnosed on abdominal ultrasound examination in the course of investigation for abdominal colic, but with no apparent biliary pathology. We report two infants, aged 1 and 2 months, in whom cholelithiasis was found during evaluation for vomiting and severe abdominal distress that was clinically suggestive of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis. Both infants, who remained symptomatic, underwent modified laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). This first presentation of LC in infants highlights the applicability of this novel technique in this very young age group.

Case Report: Selective Occipital Lobe Hydrocephalus and Agenesis of the Left Lobe of the Liver in Congenital Myotonic Dystrophy

Myotonic dystrophy (Steinerts disease) is an uncommon familial autosomal dominant disease, characterized by progressive muscular atrophy and myotonia. Mental retardation, frontal baldness, cortical lenticular opacities and testicular atrophy are other prominent features of a disease that involves predominantly striated muscle. There is little information regarding this disease in the radiological literature. The present report introduces two additional findings involving the skull and the liver.

Perianal ecthyma gangrenosum — a therapeutic dilemma

A 2-month-old premature infant was admitted to our pediatric intensive care unit because of severe Pseudomonas aeruginosa septicemia, in critical condition. A circular perianal lesion consistent with ecthyma gangrenosum developed and was treated conservatively. To our knowledge, the therapeutic dilemma between conservative and surgical management of this lesion has not been previously reported.

A selective approach to the treatment of acute scrotum in children.

To determine a reliable clinical approach to the problem of acute scrotum (AS) in children and identify patients who require emergent surgical intervention, 65 boys with the diagnosis of AS were studied. The mean age was 11 years. Acute orchitis/epididymitis was diagnosed in 42 (64.6%), torsion of the testis in 12 (18.5%), and torsion of the appendix testis in 5 (7.7%). A testicular radionuclide scan was the most reliable diagnostic tool, being positive in all 12 cases of torsion of the testis. Eighteen patients underwent scrotal exploration. Detorsion and bilateral orchidopexy was performed in 12, excision of a necrotic appendix testis in 5, and evacuation of a scrotal hematoma in 1. The outcome of the involved testis at follow-up examination was excellent, with only 1 child developing testicular atrophy. This study stresses the reliability of the selective approach for the treatment of the AS in children.